David and the Phoenix

I first read "David and the Phoenix" in 1958 when it became a selection of the Weekly Reader Chilren's Book Club. I loved it then and I love it still. I cannot think of another book which quite so filled me with a sense of wonder. Edward Ormondroyd's vivid descriptions paint bright scenes of characters and places in the reader's imagination. It is the kind of book that a child takes to heart, where it very well may remain ever after. I know that, even before reading the recently reprinted edition, I could recount virtually every episode in the tale, with Joan Raysor's simple pen sketches still providing the framework for my mind's eye recreation of the story. The book is full of humor, adventure, wonder, and gentle wisdom. This is a genuine classic of imaginative children's literature.

This was my favorite book growing up. Hands down. (2nd place was "Follow the Leader" by James Garfield.) I was probably eight or nine when I first read it over 40 years ago. I have a copy somewhere in the house (yellow hard back if I remember). I was curious to see if it was still in print. After all these years for some reason the book entered my thoughts tonight - and I was amazed to see this book rereleased just this past week. What kind of "magic" does Mr. Ormondroyd perform on his readers? Does he reach out telepathically to his (now much older) young readers? Wouldn't surprise me - what with the hold this book had on me for years and years. See, this kid moves into a new house and finds that a mountain exits right in his own backyard. He's just got to climb that mountain and what he finds when he gets to the top...You'll just have to read this book. It begs to be read aloud to children. My youngest boy, Jesse, is eleven and I've got to dig out my old copy to read to him...better yet, I think I'll plunk down the cash on the limited edition. My way of directly thanking the author for the hours of pleasure he gave to me so many years ago.

I read this book when I was 9 years old....I am now 49...Like so many people on this list I thought I was alone in my ardor for this magical story. I was also suprised to find some similar threads in the Harry Potter books...the philosophers stone..the phoenix and the cast of mythological characters...who is this Ormondroyd?

My husband made me read this, when he re-discovered his copy on his parents' bookshelf. Thereafter, I read it to every third grade class I taught for 15 years, and my husband, David, read it to our two boys. My classes did drawings of the action while the characters came to life in their minds. Wonderful! The fantasy is embellished with wonderful drama, emotion, and vocabulary to enrich one's life. I still think about the Griffens and Griffons sometimes, and frequently miss the antics of the ever-loveable Phoenix.